PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rabago comes to the cage accompanied by Thursday Magnets Caught In A Metal Heart. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rabago
vs
Briggs

186 cm
26
170 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

163 cm
22
171 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raymond Rabago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonathan Briggs!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Briggs thows a left - swing and a miss!

Briggs darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Briggs connects with a nice short shot to Rabago's temple.
Briggs missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Briggs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Briggs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Briggs gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sloppy strikes from Rabago. Those never looked like landing.
Briggs throws out a loose jab but Rabago uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Briggs.
Briggs throws a sloppy head kick and Rabago moves out of range easily.
Briggs showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rabago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rabago is fending him off so far but Briggs persists. Nope, Rabago circles away and we're back to standing.
A nice combination there by Rabago.
Rabago avoids the head kick by Briggs.
Briggs avoids the head kick by Rabago.
Briggs steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rabago.
Rabago tries a head kick but it misses.
Briggs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Briggs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice sprawl there from Rabago as Briggs shoots in.
Briggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Rabago. Those never looked like landing.
Briggs throws a head kick but Rabago moves out of range.
Rabago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Briggs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Briggs misses with a head kick.
Rabago swinging wildly here.
Briggs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Briggs is defended easily by Rabago.
Raymond Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jonathan Briggs.
Briggs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago blocks a head kick by Briggs.
Rabago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Briggs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good exchange - Rabago coming out on top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rabago will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rabago is breathing heavily.
Briggs throws a sloppy head kick and Rabago moves out of range easily.
Rabago pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Briggs throws a jab but it's blocked by Rabago.
Briggs throws an overhand right that lands on Rabago's shoulder, as Rabago tries to avoid the shot.
Rabago jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Briggs looks to land a right hand but Rabago moved out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Briggs misses the target.
Rabago blocks a head kick by Briggs.
Briggs throws a head kick that misses.
Rabago throws a right hand that Briggs ducks under and follows up with a left that Briggs also avoids with ease.
Briggs is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Briggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rabago.
Raymond Rabago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago scores with a crisp jab that stopped Briggs in his tracks.
A head kick misses from Briggs.
Briggs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rabago circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rabago works over Briggs's head and body with a nice combination.
Rabago lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Briggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rabago avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Briggs shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rabago napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Briggs trying to control the action but Rabago is working from the bottom.
Rabago takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Briggs connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rabago some visible discomfort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The ground and pound from Briggs seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Briggs throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Briggs scores with punches from side control.
Rabago is not content to let Briggs control the position.
Briggs scores with a couple of short elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An elbow from Briggs crashes against the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Briggs dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Briggs blocks a jab.

Briggs throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rabago tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Briggs is in Rabago's guard.
Briggs throwing strikes from guard but Rabago blocks nicely.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Briggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Briggs gets to his feet. Rabago looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rabago pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rabago lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Briggs just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Briggs moves away from the strike by Rabago.
Rabago slips a jab from Briggs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago throws a right and a left that Briggs avoids nicely.
Briggs misses with a looping left.
Briggs fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sloppy strikes from Rabago. Those never looked like landing.
A head kick misses from Briggs.
Raymond Rabago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Briggs works Rabago's body with a nice hook.
Briggs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Briggs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rabago will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Briggs throws a sloppy head kick and Rabago moves out of range easily.
Briggs looks to score with a jab to the body but Rabago is just out of range.

Briggs fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rabago sprawls well initially but Briggs persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Briggs decides to return to a standing position.
Rabago ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Briggs closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rabago to the mat! Rabago manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Briggs throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Briggs landing with the ground and pound.
Briggs throwing strikes from guard but Rabago blocks nicely.
Briggs lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jonathan Briggs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Briggs makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rabago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs throwing strikes from guard but Rabago blocks nicely.
Briggs thows a big elbow that misses.
Briggs working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Briggs trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rabago knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Briggs on the ground.
Briggs distracts Rabago with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rabago avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Briggs sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs thows a big elbow that misses.
Rabago on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rabago tries to get out of the position.
Briggs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Briggs throwing strikes from guard but Rabago blocks nicely.
Briggs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Briggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Briggs is working Rabago over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Briggs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Briggs drives through with a takedown into Rabago's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Briggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rabago keeping moving, preventing Briggs from controlling successfully.
Briggs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Briggs throws a big right hand that misses.
Briggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Briggs has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Briggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Rabago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Briggs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Briggs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Briggs working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Briggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Briggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rabago swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Briggs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Briggs.
Rabago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Briggs pushing down on Rabago's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Briggs has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Briggs lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Briggs landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Briggs working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Briggs is nestled in close to Rabago, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rabago blocking the ground and pound attempt from Briggs.
Briggs drops an elbow to the side of Rabago's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Briggs throwing shots but Rabago is blocking nicely.
Briggs working the head and body with strikes.
Briggs thows a huge punch but Rabago dodges it nicely.
Rabago has hold of Briggs's hands but Briggs slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Briggs missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Briggs with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Briggs lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Briggs throwing shots but Rabago is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Raymond Rabago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Briggs is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big strike lands for Briggs! That's really hurt Rabago and he's turned his back - Briggs keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Briggs jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jonathan Briggs!